New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-07
SENDING A BALL INTO HIS BRAIN
AYOUNG LAWYER INSANE FROM STUDY.

ELUDING HIS GUARDS WHILE ON on THE WAY TO
THE POUGHKEEPsIE ASYLUM.
George ID Smelling graduated with honors
from the Columbia College Law School three years
ago. Shortly after his graduation he entered the
law Office OF Campbell & Paige, at No. 1O2 Broad
way, as a clerk About year ago he began prac-
tising on his own account in fremont and engaged
desk room in the railroad Office Of George w.
Tarbox in Tremont-ave. lie boarded with George
G. Fay at No. 1880 Washingtonave. His time
during the day was spent in tie Office of his
employers but in the evening he found time 10
practise in fremont. When not engaged on a
case he spent his spare moments in study. Last
summer the close application to his books and his
scdentary habits began to show themselves In
his eyes which became 80 weak that he was COM
PEELED to remain in a dark room for five weeks.
He became respondent and moody and showed
signs of insanity.
The young man was advised to take rest, but
he would not do so and kept steadily at work
He became rapidly worse and imagined, among
OF her things that nc was being pursued by detec-
tives who were trying to arrest him Tor some
grave crime which he thought that he had com
mitted He became so bad that his friends kept
close watch on him, fearing that he would lnlurc
someone or commit suicide On Lay he came
TO Newly orl< and went to his office in Broadway
While there he appeared rational and talked with
Mr. Lay with whom he had some business arranse-
ments. Unnotccd he slipped out OF The once
and that night did not return to his home.
search was begun which proved futile until detec-
tives were employed and on Wednesday they
found him at Bonfaces Hotel IN
the village of Westchester, where he had been
staying since he disappeared. TIE young lawyer
was taken before Drs McDesnealty and Becker,
who examined him carefully and certified to his
insanity The certificate was presented to Judge
Isaac J Mills of Mt. Vernon, who Immediately
issued papers on which Mr. Smelling was to be
committed to the Insane Asylum at Poughkeepsie
Early Yesterday Constable Bradley, OF West
chester and Mr.. Lay started for
the asylum with their prisoner y, drlying rnif
over from Mt Vernon in sleigh. MT. het Snet
| ling seemed to be ID excellent spirits and chat
| te pleasantly with mis- guards and boarded the
| Albany ira II apparently iE good humor ihe tram
reached Yonkers at i2:Ol Q. m ana shortly Deiore
| the rear platform as he said, to smoke. when the
train stopped he standing there puiing COM
placentlv ut his cigar. moment later the sharp
crack OF pistol startled tho occupants or th, car
| and broupht Mr. Law and the constable to the door
| There they saw Mr. Shellns lying on the plat
| form on his back smoking 32calibre revolver IN
| flowed from bright spo, abovo the right temple
| showed " here the bnl.et had penetrated.
! There was a great commOtion IN the car, women
screamed and tainted and no one ior tne Iis'nrs a
| had sufficient control to see whether or not ne
| was extinct. A h irrIed examination showel tuat
there was still FAINT pulsafion aud the swyer was
| hastily conveyed to q sleigh. AMI WAS driven 10
| ST. Johns Riverside Hospital. There 1t was soon
seen that the wound was n fatal one and death was
only a matter of few hours: His brother. Chsr es
| f. Smelling, who lives at No. lsI Carlton-ave;
| Byooklyn and who il connected with the hrm Oh
| r ID 4 ebster & Snns, No. II Mai ien-lane, was
| sumtnoned to the bedside of his diving orother.
Mr. Shelling is twenty-seven years OF age ana ui-
marIe HIS father MetnH't th wbo9 Toung
Shclling was associated, spoke Oh MIN III 'no
highest terms Yesterday.